Hydraulic ram for propelling cars through kilns



April 15, 1924. 1;,490517 FR UV. C 1T HYDRAULIC RAM FOR PROPELJJING QARS THROUGH KILNS Filed Sept. 12. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 LLLLLLLLLLLLLL xxx AIM April 15 .1924J 1,490,517

P. w. OTT

HYDRAULIC RAM FOR PROPELLING CARS THROUGH KILNS Filed Sept. 12 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 15 1924. 1,490,517

P. W. OTT

HYDRAULIC RAM FOR PROPELLING. CARS THROUGH KILNS Filed Sept. 12. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 N Q w a I N M Hi m 2 Q1 i z gf f 1 r) E I i! 15, 1924. 1,490,517 P. W. OTT

HYDRAULIC RAM FOR PROPELLING CARS THROUGH KILNS Filed Sept. 12 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l/I/I/I/II? 54 lwue/wioz I m I r 4;, K

Fatented Apr. 15, 192 i.

MNHTEE STATES PATENT @FFECE.

- PERCY w. o'r'r, or COLUMBUS, onto.

HYDRAULIC RAM FOR PROPELLING CAR-S THROUGH KILNS.

Application filed September 12, 1921. Serial No. 500,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. PERCY VJ. O'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Rams for Propelling Cars Through Kilns, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a ram W for charging kilns intermittently with material for drying or burning. It may be applied to a brick kiln or metallurgical kilns, etc.- It consists principally of a hydraulic cylinder and a piston connected with the loaded cars to push them into a kiln. The

stroke of the piston may be of any length.

The most practical stroke length would be approximately the length of the car upon which the material is loaded so that ad ditional cars pushed into the kiln will act on the previous ones so as to gradually push a whole train through the kiln. In this mannor, the drying will occur gradually as the car advances to the point in the kiln where the greatest heat is to be found.

Some of the advantages and objects of the present invention may be enumerated: It produces a steady uniform movement. It is highly etiicient as compared with screw types, gear or ratchet types of machines at present used for" this purpose. It is reliable in operation; it has few working parts and as a consequence does not easily get out of order and is free from excessive wear. The machine may be made half or fully automatic in its operation. The rate of speed is capable of easy and accurate control by changing the speed of the pump or the length of the piston stroke in the pump. The length of the ram stroke may also be varied for use under different conditions and its initial cost and upkeep is considerably less than other types of machines used for the same purpose.

Still another advantage consists in the slow working stroke and rapid return stroke of the ram which permits a new car to be introduced in front of the machine and the train started with the least possible delay so that the speed necessary for the drying or burning of material on the cars can be very closely adjusted. I I

In the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the invention is illustrated and Figure 1 shows a side elevation and part section of the ram installed in front of a kiln ready to be started;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a ram;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 2 and seen from the opposit: side to Figure 1, some parts being shown in section;

Fig. is a front end view partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the valve box;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the valve box with its cap lifted oif.

Referring particularly to Figure 1, the reference nunrral 20 denotes a kiln, the end of which is closed by a door 21. At the bottom of the kiln are provided rails 22 for the cars 23 upon which the material 24 to be treated is loaded.

Immediately outside of the door of the kiln is provided a shallow pit 25having rails 26 for trucks 27 which have top rails 28. Upon these trucks, cars 23 are transferred and placed in front of the door 21 of the kiln and on the ground opposite the door is placed the ram which in gi'neral is denoted by the numeral 30. The cars 23 are preferably pushed by hand ofi the truck 27 into the end of the kiln or ifvery heavy the ram may be used for this purpose, but gene ally the door is closed before the ram is set into operation and the rod 31, forming a connection between the end of the car 23 and the ram head 32, is pushed through a small hole 33 in the door 21 whereupon the ram started, pushing the train a car length ah ad in the kiln.

In detail, the machine is constructed as follows:

The base for the rain is formed as a tank 3% containing oil or other suitable liquid for the machine.

On top of this tank 34: is rigidly secured. a hydraulic cylinder 35 which has a straight bore and is closed at its rear end by a cap 36 with suitable packings. VVithin this cylinder is mounted to travel a piston 37 with hydraulic packings inserted between the same and the cylinder bore. On the front side of the piston, a rod 38 is attached and is made of such diameter that a narrow chamber is formed around it in the cylinder.

It will thus be evident that the efiective pressure area on the front side of the pis ton is considerably smaller than that on the rear side thereof.

The piston rod 38 extends beyond the other end of the cylinder which is open and it is provided with a ram head 32. A packing box 40 of the usual construction is to be found at the open end ot' the cylinder.

As the cylinder has considerably greater length than the tank, a stand 41. supports its rear end.

In the center of the cap a port 42 is shown and another port 43 slightly ahead of the front end of the piston head in the side of thecylinder 35. The third port M is provided near the open end of the cylinder just in rear of tin packing b x and these three ports form inlet, and outlet pas sages for the hydraulic fluid as will be'described later on.

On top of a cover plate or retaining member 50, which holds down the cylinder on the tank 84, is formed a flat surface on which is set a pump 51, shown with three cylinders 52 and pistons see Figure 5. The pump draws fluid from the tank 34 through a pipe 54: and sends it out through aconduit 55. Thepump is driven by means of suitable gear from a motor 56, as shown in the drawings. or any other suitable drive may be used. The motor 56 is also mounted on the tank 34-.

Theconduit leads the fluid into a valve box 57 whiclr is connected by means of another conduit 58 with the port t). in the center of the cap 36 at the rear end of the cylinder. A branch 49 from the conduit leads into port t l at the forward end of the cylinder. Still another conduit 59 returns exhaust fluid from the valve into the tank 34.

The valve which is best shown in Figures 6 and 7 stands on a pedestal on one side of the tank 34. In the valve body two opposite bores tor the conduits 58 and 59 respectively are provided and two channels 60, 61 are shown to connect the conduit openings with the flat surface 63 of the chamber 64 formed in the cap 62 covering the fiat top surface 63 otthe valve body. A slide 65 adapted to travel longitudinally on the top face 63 has a shallow aperture 66 on its under side which is of such a length that when the slide stands in its extreme right position, as seen in Figure 6, it connects the channels 60, 61 When the slide 65 takes its opposite extreme position, the channel 61 remains covered by the slide while the channel is open to the chamber 64. At one side of the slide a third channel 67 connects the chamber 64: with a bore 68 into which the conduit 55 opens.

A reversing bar 70 running in longitudinal direction of the valve has a narrow portion 71 which is adapted to engage in the corresponding seat in the slide 65. The forward end of this reversing;- rod has a hinge connection with the transverse shiftingbar 78 which is pivoted at 72 on top of the tank and extends across to the opposite side of the tank where its free end is engaged by the starting lever 73 which isjournaled at 74 on the tank. It will now be evident that with the startinglever 7 3 thrown forward into the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the valve 57 is open so as to send the pressure fluid from the pump to the rear end of the piston heath as will be more fully described later on.

An automatic device may be supplied for reversing the machine in addition to the hand operation performed by the starting hand lever 73. This automatic reversing device consists of a follower rod 80 which is mounted in suitable bearings 81 and 82 attached to the tank the axis of'this follower rod running parallel to the axis of the piston rod to which it is rigidly secured by means of the side projection 83 provided on the red head 39. On the free end or rear end of: the rod 80 is shown an actuating collar 8-4:. which is here indicated as being threaded on the end of the rod, for the purpose of adjusting the position of the collar 84- longitudinally on the rod, in order to lengthen or shorten the stroke of the ram. Any other means than threads may be adapted tor securing this eollarin different positions on the rod.

A dog 85 having a sleeve 86 surrounding the rod 80 is slidably supported in the hearing 82 and forms the bearing: portion for the rod 86 on the bracket 82. This dog 85 engages with its lower end the free end of the reversing bar 70, as best shown in Figure A spring 88 surrounds the rod 80 abutting against the rear end of the sleeve 86, but being; shorter than the distance between the bearing bracket 82 and the collar 84, so that when the ram is in its starting' position with the piston 37 against the cap 36, the spring 88 is perfectly free and its function will. be described later.

Tl'ie operation of the machine is as fol-- lows: It will be supposed that the starting lever is in the position shown in the figures, that it has been drawn ton ward to start the forward or operating stroke of the rain. The slide will then have the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 6. This means that the fluid in the conduit 55 has freeracccss through channels 67 and 60 in the valve so that it can pass from the pump 51 out through the conduit 55 and into the valve box 57 through the channel 67 passing through the chamber 64: into the channel 60 and out through the conduit 58 and port t? into the cylinder to the rear of the piston head- 37. The pres of the cylinder.

sure exerted on the rear of the piston head 57 will now drive the ram forward the length of the stroke which is decided by the position of the collar 84 on the follower rod 80. During the first part of the stroke, the collar Set and dog 85 are inactive but toward the end the collar 84- will abut against the free end of the spring 88 and gradual y compress the same. lVhen the compression of the spring is great enough to overcome the resistance of the parts connected with th reversing rod 70, the spring 88 actuated by the portion 84 will push the dog 85 forward, bringing with it the reversing rod '70 and the slide 65 which will ultimately take the position shown in full lines in Figure 6. As the communication will cease between the channels 67 and 60 there will be no more fluid sent to conduit 58 which now instead communicates with the exhaust pipe 59 through the channels 60, 61 and the recess 66 in the slide 65.

The direction of the fluid will now be reversed. As it is now barred from an outlet through the valve 57, the fluid will pass from the pump 51 and through the branch pipe 49 and port 44; into the forward end As this conduit has been open all the time through the working stroke of the ram, it has actually made a slight resistance against the pressure on the rear face of the piston 37, but as the forward surface of the piston is so much smaller than the rear surface and the same pressure per square inch is exerted on both sides of the piston, the action of the fluid on the rear thereof easily overcomes the counteraction on its forward side. When new the valve has been reversed no pressure on the rear of the piston will exist and the action of the fluid on its forward side, caused by the fluid coming in through the port -14, will give very rapid retracting motion to the ram as the cross sectional area of the fluid around the piston is very small and the speed of the fluid in the conduit is about the same.

Toward the end of the return stroke when the piston 87 has passed th port as, this port will open from the space at the forward end of the cylinder and into conduit 58 so that pressure on the forward side of the piston will be relieved and the fluid sent back through the port 43 joining the fluid returning back of the piston through con duit 58, valve 57, channel 60, 61 and recess 66 and will finally pass through exhaust pipe 59 back into the tank 34-.

When the dog 85 acts on the reversing rod 70 and shifts the slide 65 into the reversing position, the shifting bar 78 simultaneously throws the starting lever 73 into reverse position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, and the machine is new again ready to be started on its forward stroke by throwing the starting lever into itsforward position. This will cause the dog to be thrown back into the initial position, as shown in Figure 3.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A hydraulic ram comprising a cylinder having an open front end and a closed rear end, a port adjacent the front end and a second port adjacent the rear end, a piston in said cylinder with a piston rod projecting beyond the front end of said cylinder, the effective area of said piston being greater on its rear side than on its front side, a fluid pressure source and a conduit connecting said fluid pressure source with each of said ports, and means for reversing the direction of flow through said second port; a slide valve, means connected with said piston for automatically operating said slide valve comprising a slidably mounted rod rigidly secured to said piston and having its axis parallel therewith, a loose sleeve around said rod having connection with said slide valve, an abutment on said rod and a spring inserted between said abutment and said sleeve.

2. A hydraulic rain comprising a cylinder having an open front end and a closed rear end, a port adjacent the front end and a second port adjacent the rear end, a piston in said cylinder with a piston rod projecting beyond the front end of said cylinder, the effective area of said piston being greater on its rear side than on its front side, a fluid pressure source and a conduit connectin said fluid pressure source with each of said ports, and means for automatically reversing the direction of flow through said second port; a slide valve, means connected with said piston for automatically operating said slide valve comprising a slidably mounted rod rigidly secured to said piston and having its axis parallel therewith, a loose sleeve around said rod having connection with said slide valve, an abutment on said rod and a spring inserted between said abutment and said sleeve.

3. A hydraulic ram comprising a cylinder having an open front end and a closed rear end, a port adjacent the front end and asecond port adjacent the rear end, a piston in said cylinder with a piston rod projecting beyond the front end of said cylinder, the efiective area of said piston being greater on its rear side than on its front side, a fluid pressure source and a conduit con necting said fluid pressure source with each of said ports, means for automatically reversing the direction of flow through said second port; a slide valve, means connected with said piston for automatically operating said slide valve comprising a slidably mounted rod rigidly secured to said piston and having its axis parallel therewith, a

loose sleeve around said rod having connection with said slide valve an abutn'ient on said rod and a spring inserted betvsecn said abutment and said sleeve said abutment being axially adjustable on said rod.

4:. A hydraulic rain comprising a cylinder having an open front end and a closed rear end, a port adjacent the front end and a second port adjacent the rear end, a piston in said cylinder with a piston rod projecting beyond the front end of said cylinder, the effective area of said piston being greater on its rear side than on its front, side, a fluid pressure source and a conduit connecting said fluid pressure source with each of said ports, a valve in the conduit leading to said second port, an exhaust vent in said valve, a slide in said valve adapted to stop the flow of fluid from said source through said valve, and connecting said exhaust vent with said second port, means connected with said piston for automatically operating said slide, said means comprising a rod rigidly secured to said piston and having its axis arallel therewith a bearin for said rod a loose sleeve around said rod having connectlon with said slide an abutment on said rod and a spring inserted l'ietivccn said abut-- ment and said sleeve.

5. A hydraulic ram comprising a hollow cylinder, a port adjacent each end of the cylinder, and a second port adjacent the rear end thereof, a piston in said cylinder with the piston rod projecting beyond one end of said cylinder, a fluid pressure source and a conduit connecting said fluid pressure source with each, of said ports, a valve in the conduit leading to said second port, an exhaust vent in said valve, a slide in said valve adapted to stop the flow of fluid from said source through said valve and connecting said exhaust With said second port, means connected with said piston for automatically operating said slide, said means comprising a rodrigidly secured to said. pistonand having its axis parallel therewith, a hearing for said rod, a loose sleeve around said rod having connection with said slide, an abutment on said rod, and a spring inserted between said abutment and said sleeve.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

PERCY OTT. [1. s] 

